Front-opening convertible studio couch



Oct. 26, 1965 J. G. sEvclK 3,213,468

FRONT-OPENING CONVERTIBLE STUDIO COUCH Filed April 29, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l 'HIHIIHIIV ,HIHHIIIIIHIIHWHI' Oct. 26, 1965 J. G. sEvclK FRONT-OPENING CONVERTIBLE STUDIO COUCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1963 Oct. 26, 1965 J. G. sr-:vclK 3,213,468

FRONT-OPENING CONVERTIBLE STUDIO COUCH Filed April 29, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 9. -ff 47j ff 52 ff@ ff 177%?? for* L57? fedlJ/f United States Patent O 3,213,468 FRQNT-PENING CNVERTIELE STUDIO CIJCH .lohn G. Sevcik, Berwyn, Ill., assigner to Burton-Dixie Corporation, Chicago, Iil., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,646 S Claims. (Cl, 18)

The present invention relates to a convertible article of furniture and more particularly to a front-opening studio couch and sleeping piece readily convertible from a sitting piece into a double bed or twin beds.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel assembly in a convertible studio couch of a stationary frame section and a movable frame section adapted to be slidably withdrawn from the stationary section to open or extended position in which the open sections provide a bed capable of comfortably sleeping two persons and with each bed section being of substantially the same width.

In prior types of studio couches, the movable section when withdrawn to provide with the stationary bed section a so-called double bed, provides a sleeping piece of less width than the stationary bed section. By the present construction and the novel slidable track arrangement of the bed sections, the outer or movable section is fully extensible to its maximum width on the stationary bed section thereby adding greatly to the comfort of a person occupying the outer bed section.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel front-opening convertible studio couch in which the front or movable bed section is provided with pivotally mounted legs so constructed, arranged and operated as to be automatically moved to folded or retracted position when the front section is telescoped or withdrawn to its inoperative position.

Associated with each of these pivotally mounted forward legs is a movable arm effective in lowering and retaining the pivotally mounted legs in lowered, door engaging position when the front frame section is withdrawn to operative position, and to pivot these legs out of floor engagement when the front section is retracted or telescoped into the contines of the rear or stationary frame section.

The present invention further comprehends a novel front-opening convertible studio couch in which the rear or stationary frame section is provided at each end with an adjustably mounted wooden track and each end rail of the front or movable frame section is provided at each end with an inclined and depending flange member slidable in said adjustable track, said tracks and inclined flange of each end rail being so constructed, arranged and combined whereby the front section is adapted to be fully and easily withdrawn and supported in such withdrawn position whereby the latter provides a bed frame section or unit of greater and more effective width than prior extensible bed frame sections in convertible furniture of this general type.

Each wooden track member is adjustably mounted upon a fixed supporting metal plate for limited relative movement therebetween whereby the front or extensible bed frame section is readily withdrawn from the stationary section over the wooden track and, when in fully extended position, the track members are also extended to their forward position beyond their fixed supporting plates, such latter movement being permitted by the slots in the supporting plates.

Thus the present invention comprehends a novel construction of extensible bed frame assembly for a frontopening convertible studio couch in which the front or extensible section is of substantially the same width as that of the inner or stationary section, and provided with lb Patented Get. 25, 1965 ICC novel means whereby the front section is quickly and conveniently withdrawn, supported and retained in its extended position to form a double bed, and retracted to its telescoped or inoperative position.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an assembled front-opening studio couch embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the front-opening studio couch showing the front frame section withdrawn to its extended position to form a double bed.

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the rear or stationary bed frame section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, but showing an end rail of the front section positioned in its track.

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2 but with the stationary rear and movable front frame sections partially telescoped, the front section being slightly disengaged as when the outer unit is being withdrawn or retracted and the pivoted legs are in floor-engaging position.

FIG. 5 is a View in vertical cross section similar to FIG. 4, but with the movable and stationary frame sections fully telescoped together and the pivoted legs in retracted position for use of the telescoped assembly as a studio couch.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the wood tracks, there being one at each end of the rear or stationary frame section.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of one of the longitudinally slotted metal plates upon which a wooden track is slidably or adjustably mounted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of `one of the end rails of the front or movable section having its depending fiange received and slidable in a wooden track, with the flange being tapered at one end.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken on the line 9 9 of FIG. 2 and of FIG. 10, the front leg of the movable section being shown in floor-engaging position.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View of the upper left-hand corner of FIG. 2 and of FIG. 9.

FIG. l1 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 9 but with the pivoted leg being rotated about its pivot toward its released position in which it is being retracted and elevated from the floor.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken on the line 12 12 of FIG. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation of the left-hand corner of FIG. 5 and showing the position of the rear end of the arm or bar controlling movement of the tiltable legs of the front section elevated to release position from the side rail and moved forwardly to tilt its pivoted leg out of engagement with the floor.

FIG. 14 is a view in side elevation of the component parts shown in FIG. 13, but showing the position of the controlling bar when the front or movable frame section is partially withdrawn `from the stationary or rear frame section as appears on a smaller scale in FIG. 4.

Referring to the detailed disclosure in the drawings and to the novel embodiment shown as illustrative of the present invention, fFIG. l discloses the present invention combined and assembled in telescoped relation to form a studio cou-ch 10 but readily convertible to provide a double bed or twin beds when the front or outer frame section or lbed unit 11 is bodily withdrawn from the rear or stationary frame section or bed yunit 12 to the position shown in FIG. 2. Uniike prior types of combination sofa-beds, the front or outer frame unit provides a bed section of substantially the width of the rear bed section and thus of greater width than those of which I am aware.

The front or outer movable unit 11 comprises a cushionmattress supporting section having longitudinally extending side rails 13 and 14 and connected end rails 15 and 16 forming the frame. Cushion mattress-supporting spring elements comprise conventional wire link fabric 17 tensionally connected to the side and end rails by coil springs 18, as shown in FIG. 2.

The rear or stationary frame yunit 12 also comprises a cushion-mattress supporting section having longitudinally extending side rails 19 and 21 and connected depending end rails 22 and 23 forming the frame and to which rails are connected cushion-mattress supporting coil springs 24 joined by cross-connecting wires or members 25 with the externally arranged springs adjacent the side and end rails being suitably connected thereto.

The side rails 19 and 21 and end rails 22 and 23 of the stationary frame unit 12 and those of the movable frame unit 11 are preferably formed of angle irons joined at the corners to provide a continuous rigid frame assembly. At each corner (FIG. 3) of the rear or inner frame section 12 there is securely anchored a depending leg 26. Enclosing side boards 2'7 and 28 are provided at the front and rear and end boards 29 and 31 are provided at the opposite ends of the stationary frame unit 12.

At each of the opposite ends of the rear frame unit 12 is mounted a transverse flat metal plate 32 each aiiixed along one edge 33 to an end rail 22 or 23 (FIG. 12). Each plate 32 (FIG. 7) has two longitudinally extending elongated slots 34 and 35 each freely receiving the shank of a bolt 36 projecting therethrough and upwardly into a wooden track member 37 (FIG. 12). Each track member is of substantially the same length as its metal plate 32 but shiftable on the latter for the length of the slots 34 and 35 so that the forward end of each track member 37 can be withdrawn or extended beyond the outer or side rail 19 of the stationary frame member 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Each track member 37 also has an upwardly opening, longitudinally extending groove 38 adapted to receive therein the depending iiange 39 of each end rail 15 and 16 of the movable frame unit 11, the end 41 of the ange 39 being tapered at one end to lower the movable frame section 11 when fully extended or withdrawn.

The front or movable bed section 11 is provided with a xed depending leg 42 at each of the two inner corners of the `frame and adjacent the front thereof at each of the two outer corners there is a leg 43 each pivotally mounted at 44 on its end rail 15 or 16 of this bed section. Each leg 42 and 43 comprises an angle member 45 on the lower end of which is rigidly mounted a depending bracket 46 carrying a caster 47 movable into contact position with the door when the movable frame unit 11 is withdrawn from the stationary frame unit 12. Adjacent the upper end of each leg 43 and above its pivot 44 is pivotally connected one end of a longitudinally movable control bar or arm 48 extending alongside and inwardly of the end rails 1S and 16 to a point beyond and rearwardly of the rear side rail 14 of the movable bed section 11. Each arm is connected to one end of a tension spring 49, the other end of the spring being anchored to the rail 14.

The inner free end 51 of each control arm 48 extends rearwardly through a slot 52 in the depending ange 53 of the rear side rail 14 and adjacent said end each arm is notched on its underside at 54 to drop onto and engage the ange 53 to thereby lock the control arm in its inward or retracted position and in which position it moves the legs 43 to the outwardly and downwardly inclined oorengaging position shown in FIG. 9. The legs 43 assume this position when the movable frame section 11 is withl drawn from beneath the stationary frame section 12, and in this position each leg 43 is adapted to engage a iiange on an angle member -Sti providing a stop. A cross bar or angle member 55 spans and connects the movable legs 43 so that these legs move together.

Mounted on the rear side rail 21 of the stationary frame section 12 in alignment with each control arm 4S is a locking member 56 comprising a metal bar formed to provide multiple bends including a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 57, an upwardly inclined portion 58 and then Va second downwardly inclined portion 59, the latter providing a guide surface against which the end 51 of the control arm 48 abuts as the movable bed section 11 is telescoped or moved inwardly to its inoperative position. This end 51 is lifted out of locking engagement with the depending ange 53 of the rear side rail 14. Then as the movable frame section is fully retracted the end 51 abuts the rear side rail 21 whereupon the ange 53 of the rear side rail 14 of the movable bed section 11 drops into the notch 61 formed by the inclined surfaces 57 and 58 of the locking member 56 (FIG. 13).

When the movable bed section 11 is withdrawn from its telescoped position within the conne-s of the stationary bed section 12 (FIGS. 5 and 13), the operator grasps and pulls outwardly on the front side board 62 of the movable bed section 11. This causes release of the ange 53 of the rear side rail 14 from its locking member 56 and withdraws the inner end of the control arms 48 from abutment with rear side rail 21 of the stationary bed section 12. The tension or coil springs 49 retract the control arms 48 which lock with the rear side rail 14 (FIG. 14) and move the pivoted legs 43 to lthe tilted position shown in FIG. 4. Then as the operator continues to withdraw the movable bed section 11, the depending flange 39 of the end rails 15 and 16 slides within their wooden tracks until the frame section is fully extended as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the inclined end 41 of the tlange 39 of the end rails 15 and 16 lowers the frame section 11 until the casters engage the floor as shown in FIG. 9.

In the fully extended position of FIG. 2, the ends of the wooden tracks are withdrawn beyond their supporting plates to provide a support for and permit complete withdrawal iof the end rails 15 and 16 and rear I.side rail 14, the latter engaging a stop 63 mounted on the outer end of each wooden track member 37 and which retains the sections 11 and 12 connected. However, all that is required to separate these frame or bed sections to provide twin beds, is to lift and thereby disengage the outer or movable bed section 11 from the stops 63.

I claim:

1. A front-opening studio couch readily convertible to a double bed, comprising a stationary bed frame and a movable bed frame slidably mounted in said stationary bed trame, a plate mounted at each end of the stationary bed frame and carrying a wooden track member thereon having an upwardly opening groove providing a track, each plate having at least rone longitudinal slot and a bolt depending from the wooden track through the slot to allow relative movement therebetween, said movable bed frame having side and end rails with each end rail provided with a depending ange slidably mounted in the groove of lone of said wooden track members, the inner end tof each depending flange having an inclined portion to lower the movable bed frame as the frame is fully withdrawn from the stationary bed frame to provide a double bed, xed legs adjacent the rear corners of the movable bed frame and pivotally mounted legs adjacent the front corners thereof, and means actuating said pivotally mounted legs between a floor engaging position and an elevated retracted position.

2. A front-opening studio couch readily convertible to a double bed as set forth in claim 1, in which said means includes a control bar pivotally connected at one end to one `of said pivotally mounted legs, said control bar extending rearwardly beyond the rear of said movable bed frame to engage the rear of the stationary bed frame when the movable bed frame is retracted to elevate the pivotally mounted legs, and locking means on the control bar to lock the control bar with the pivotally mounted legs in door-engaging position when the movable bed frame is withdrawn.

3. A front-opening studio couch readily convertible to a double bed as set forth in claim 2, in which the control bar is spring-biased to lower the pivotally mounted legs to their licor-engaging position.

4. A front-opening studio couch readily `convertible to a double bed as set forth in claim 2, in which 'said locking means includes a downwardly opening notch in the lower surface -of the control bar adapted to receive the rear side rail of the movable bed frame.

5. A front-opening studio couch readily convertible to a double bed as set forth in claim 2, including a locking member mounted on and extending forwardly from the rear of the stationary bed frame, said locking member including a camming surface adapted to engage and lift the control bar and disengage said locking means and having a notch adapted to Vretain the rear side rail of the movable bed frame, the control bar contacting the rear of the stationary bed frame so that the movable bed frame moves relative to the control bar to retract and elevate the pivotally-mounted legs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 171,909 1/76 Allen 5-315 692,14() 1/02 Hutchison et al 5-18 1,148,907 8/15 Kjellgren 5-3l3 X 1,967,343 7/ 34 Wesley 5-18 2,169,211 8/39 Bayer 5-18 2,250,148 7/41 Bonnet et a1. 5-18 2,392,688 1/46 Nagele 5-18 2,599,717 6/52 Menzies 5-328 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FRONT-OPENING STUDIO COUCH READILY CONVERTIBLE TO A DOUBLE BED, COMPRISING A STATIONARY BED FRAME AND A MOVABLE BED FRAME SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID STATIONARY BED FRAME, A PLATE MOUNTED AT EACH END OF THE STATIONARY BED FRAME AND CARRYING A WOODEN TRACK MEMBER THEREON HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING GROOVE PROVIDING A TRACK, EACH PLATE HAVING AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINAL SLOT AND A BOLT DEPENDING FROM THE WOODEN TRACK THROUGH THE SLOT TO ALLOW RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, SAID MOVABLE BED FRAME HAVING SIDE AND END RAILS WITH EACH END RAIL PROVIDED WITH A DEPENDING FLANGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE GROOVE OF ONE OF SAID WOODEN TRACK MEMBERS, THE INNER END OF EACH DEPENDING FLANGE HAVING AN INCLINED PORTION TO LOWER THE MOVABLE BED FRAME AS THE FRAME IS FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE STATIONARY BED FRAME TO PROVIDE A DOUBLE BED, FIXED LEGS ADJACENT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE MOVABLE BED FRAME AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEGS ADJACENT THE FRONT CORNERS THEREOF, AND MEANS ACTUATING SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEGS BETWEEN A FLOOR ENGAGING POSITION AND AN ELEVATED RETRACTED POSITION. 